More information, including agendas and reports, can be found on the Library Commission page.

Anika Patterson

Tell us a little about yourself. I was born in Charlotte, NC, raised in Oakland, and moved to Hayward almost 15 years ago.  I have one daughter and a granddaughter who is three years old. I graduated from Mills College with a Masters in Business Administration and work as a Director at Alameda County Office of Education.  I enjoy reading, dancing, puzzles, spending time with my family and binge-watching my favorite tv shows.

Why did you decide to become a Library Commissioner? I love to read and always enjoyed going to the library as a child.  As a young mother, the library was also a great place for me to take my daughter on the weekend, and she grew to love it as well.  I became a Library Commissioner because I want to help Hayward residents increase their awareness of all of the amazing programs and opportunities that the library provides and I want to help support them in accessing the library's services. 

Which of HPL services do you like best? My favorite HPL services are Curbie the bookmobile, the Libby digital library app, and Career Online High School.  Both Curbie and Libby provide the community with increased access to library materials by offering services outside of the actual library facility. I use Libby all the time, and like being able to check-out ebooks and magazines online and the convenience of being able to download materials directly onto my Kindle. As someone who works in education, I know how important a high school diploma is and I love that Career Online High school offers an alternative way for adults that didn't finish high school to earn their diplomas. 

What is your favorite thing about Hayward? My favorite thing about Hayward is that it's small enough that I feel connected to the people and businesses in the city, but it's also large enough that we have access to many of the services, resources and various landscapes that are often found in larger cities.   

Andrea Wong

Tell us a little about yourself. I have lived nearly my entire life in Hayward and attended public school from K-12.  My education and career paths have always been closely aligned with public service. I have a BA in English from UC Berkeley, a Master of Library and Information Science degree from San Jose State University, and a Master of Public Administration degree from CSU East Bay.  I currently work for the County of Alameda.  

Why did you decide to become a Library Commissioner? I was inspired to become a Library Commissioner by my positive experiences with the Hayward Public Library during various stages of my life: as a child, a young adult, and now as a parent. As a Library Commissioner, I am excited to take part in shaping library policy and advocating for the library’s interests.

Which of HPL services do you like best? Asking questions at the reference desk is always a pleasure because it means talking with the wonderful, knowledgeable librarians!

What is your favorite thing about Hayward? Besides the library, I love visiting the Hayward Regional Shoreline.

Anything else you would like to add? My husband and I have a daughter in middle school. I love being able to share favorite books from my youth with her, and now that she is getting older, she is starting to give me recommendations!